CALGARY – An ugly spring snowstorm took its toll on two recent bull test station sales.
With spring bull sales already caught in the whirlpool of a downturn in the cattle cycle, miserable weather keeping potential buyers away during calving season doesn’t help. However test station operators point out good breeding stock always pulls in good prices.
Cattleland Feedyards, north of Strathmore, Alta., sold 270 yearlings out of 384 on offer to average $2,018 in a three-day event March 20-22. Ten breeds were represented.
Success was on the Red Angus side where a yearling bull brought in $11,200 to become high seller. It was consigned by MPV Angus of Beiseker and sold to Bruce Reynolds of Cremona.
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“The last five years the Red Angus have certainly acquired a bigger chunk of the market as far as their share in concerned,” said Cattleland vice-president Pat Fisher. People are looking for marbling ability, a heritable trait among Angus cattle.
“There is a percentage of people who are becoming marbling conscious and that may be a wave of the future,” he said. On the statistical side, the bull had a high marbling score and top rated ribeye measurement.
The Fleming Bull Development Centre held its sale March 22 in Fort Macleod, Alta. during a blizzard. Buyer interest was good with standing room only at the auction mart. In total, 105 head sold for an average of $2,125, said Cecilie Fleming.
Eight breeds were represented. The top seller was a Black Angus from Willabar Ranch of Claresholm, to Lester Hochstein of Pincher Creek, Alta. It sold for $4,000.
Tying as high seller at $4,000 was a yearling Simmental consigned by Hansen Cattle Co. of Taber, Alta. It will be going to the Lost Creek Ranch at Fort Steele, B.C.
Both test stations provide ample statistics on the animals up for sale. Fleming said people are studying the birth weights and performance measurements before they buy.
“We were very pleased with the bulls. The deciding factor was often big birthweights. People are becoming more selective,” she said.
